Young House Love

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Paint Storage & Pegboards In Our Basement Workshop

Go navy! Please don’t misinterpret that previous sentence as a taking of sides in the long-standing Army / Navy feud. I’m 100% neutral on the rivalry. And if anything, my dad was in Army. But what am I doing stirring up trouble? This post is about the basement (and it’s up early since we’re on a flight)… so let’s dive in where we left off: this hot mess of a shelf.

BaseTwo 14 Paint Can Preview

This is where we’ve been storing haphazardly placing paint cans and other paint-can-shaped items. It has been the very antithesis of organization for the nearly 24 months that we’ve lived here. In fact, these are two boxes of items that haven’t even been unpacked yet from our move. Well done, Petersiks. Well done.

Paint 1 Box Old House

So I kicked off this little shelf spruce by getting everything off of them. It gave me some space to dust and also to inventory what belonged up there (paint cans) and what didn’t (boxes that contained paint cans, which needed to be emptied, broken down, and ditched in the recycling bin after two years of service).

Paint 2 Shelves Empty

Within about 30 minutes, things were looking a bit more like this:

Paint 3 After

All of the non-paint things (like bags of grout and polymeric sand) went on other shelves in the room (under the work area) so that this zone could be paint and paint only. Okay, and some stain and primer too. Because, if you haven’t noticed, we’ve accumulated lots of it. In fact, this entire left side is strictly paint leftover from book photoshoots (which is why they’re all quarts or tester sized cans).

Paint 4 Close Up

Oh and quick organizing tip: I got the “tiered” look by just placing a simple piece of scrap 2 x 6″ wood under one row of paint. That way I could see the color more easily. You can see the tiered effect more clearly in this shot of our spray paint collection. Should I be worried that we have just about every color of the rainbow? Although I can blame book projects for a good portion of this spectrum.

Paint 5 Spray Paint

This system is admittedly less intense than our previous basement’s paint system – which involved repackaging and labeling all of our leftover paint (see below). As I feared, that technique proved too cumbersome to keep up with as we purchased new paint. So don’t expect this basement’s paint shelves to go much further than they already have. But man, just knowing I was once this organized makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. #thosewerethedays

Basement Paint Can2

But speaking of paint, how about I show you how I put a small dent in that collection by putting some leftover paint to use? Can you guess what’s getting painted? Need a hint?

Navy 1 Small Unframed

Before I busted out the paint, I actually decided to dress up my pegboard with a little trim. This is thanks to some scrap and about $10 worth of new stuff.

Navy 2 Small Framed

I figured adding the frame would help my pegboard look a bit more polished. After all, aren’t these neatly organized tools a work of art in their own weird, nerdy way? I think so.

Navy 3 Big Framed

I only framed 3 sides of the big board because, well, one edge sat cleanly on the edge of the work surface. And since my yardstick was going to overlap I figured it didn’t need it.

Navy 4 Yard Stick Overhang

So here are the two pegboards complete with frames (I just held the wood frame pieces into the pegboards with a few finish nails). Still haven’t figured out what’s going on the small board. Right now it’s just a pen hanging there… chillin’ all by its bad self. But you know I’ll keep you posted when that pegboard fills up too.

Navy 5 Full Room Framed

With the frames all done, it was time to paint. Out of my plethora of options, Sherry and I agreed on this leftover quart of Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore. We used it on a project in the book (page 287) and we’ve both been a little crazy for it ever since. Speaking of crazy – how alien does my hand look below? Just picture a giant raptor talon hidden behind the paint can.

Navy 6 Paint Can

I systemically stripped the peg board of all of the tools, laying them out sort of like they fit on the wall and leaving their hooks with them. Since I know you’re wondering why I didn’t paint first – here’s why: I wanted to see how the tools looked before deciding how I wanted to paint the background (for example, if I didn’t fill the whole board I might have opted to do a pattern on one side or something). But since I thought the tools looked pretty kick butt on their own, I opted to just keep it simple with a dark manly background. And remember, we decided not to outline each tool since we liked the idea of keeping it flexible, so I can easily add new tools or reorient things if the mood strikes (flexibility = one of the best qualities of pegboards to me).

Navy 7 Tools Down

Here’s the big board after one not-perfect-yet coat. Note that I painted the trim too. I’m a wild man, I know.

Navy 8 Coat One

Here are both boards once two coats were done and dry. I realize the light is so lopsided in that room it makes the boards look two totally different shades, and it makes the one on the right look splotchy, but it’s just the light playing tricks on you. In person they both look the same color, and are nice and evenly painted.

Navy 9 Both Done

Here’s a shot of the more well-lit board so you can see the true color. I love that it’s distinctly navy, but is still pretty deep and muted at the same time. And I think keeping the frames the same color keeps it from being too high-contrast and makes it a smidge more sophisticated. That is, if you were ever to call a basement pegboard sophisticated. Oh and as for how the paint went on and if it gummed up the holes, I just applied it with a small foam roller as thinly as possible, and it didn’t gunk up the holes at all (some were clogged from previously applied white paint, but it’s still completely functional since you can shove a peg into them and unclog them).

Navy 10 Small Close

Once the paint was all dry, the tools got to go back in place. So for $15 of trim (if you don’t have any leftover scraps like we did) and $15 worth of paint (that’s the price of a quart if you don’t have any extra paint around) your basement can bring sexy back.

Navy 11 Big Done

And thud. I officially fell more in love with pegboards.

Navy 12 Big Detail

Adding the paint was a simple touch but it did something that happens anytime we put fresh paint in a room: it starts to feel “cared about” and more like it belongs to me, not the previous owner. So in that spirit, I’m thinking the next project will be to stain some of the wood in the room. It could use some freshening up and I think a deeper color might help bring some much needed contrast to the space. Like so…

Navy 13 Big Detail Stain

Thanks Photoshop. If only staining all that wood in real life were that easy. I’ll keep you posted! What are you guys up to? Any basement or garage upgrades going on? Any pegboard love affairs growing by the day? Do you think we need Painters Anonymous for all those cans and spray bottles? I kinda think we do.

Comments

  1. Sara says

    I love how your peg boards are so full and organized :) I just hung one in my craft area and am struggling with finding good doo-dads to hang stuff with – where did you find all the hangy fixtures?? I need more!

    Reply

  3. Miranda says

    I’m going to show my husband the picture of your paint collection to prove that we do NOT, in fact, have too much paint…Thanks!

    Reply

  4. Joules (from Pocketful of Joules) says

    Oh my gosh I’m so dang JEALOUS of your neatly placed paint collection! Right now I have a few cans living under our utility sink in the laundry room, a few in the basement and a few upstairs in anticipation of next week’s painting project. Now, my next project is going to be to get some shelving going on so I can have a pretty collection to oooh and ahh over!

    PS LOVE that Navy blue!

    Reply

  5. Rachel Love in the House says

    I love peg boards, too, and can’t wait to have a craft room for mine. A painted peg board makes me giddy. It looks awesome! Happy Birthday, John! (Don’t worry, I’m not a stalker, we just share a b-day so it’s easy to remember.) Have a great day!

    Reply

  7. Angela says

    Love the pegboards! I painted my whole garage MS Sharkey Grey, including the pegboard (it had been dingy white walls and brown wood color pegboard) and it made the whole place feel more “cared for” like you said. And, great minds think alike apparently, because i just finished making a toy tool bench for my son (the whole thing, including “power” tools, for $50) and I painted the pegboard portion a similar (maybe a little lighter?) color, BM Lancaster Blue. No, you don’t need paint rehab, it’s a tool of your trade :)

    Reply

  8. Jeremy says

    First off, great meeting you guys last night, thanks for signing my book. Second, is it wrong for one man to be envious of another man’s peg board? Is it wrong for one man to be envious of another man’s paint storage-that’s organized by color? I guess I know what I am doing this weekend after hanging the Christmas lights….Garage makeover! Thanks for the inspiration John-Have fun in Houston!

    Reply

  10. Jon says

    HOLY SCHNAKIES BATMAN!!!! That looks incredible!!!

    I have blue peg board envy and will be picking some up from Home Depot on my way home!!!

    Reply

  11. Reenie says

    Looks great. Please come to KS and organize my garage =)

    But…. I think I have more “flavors” of spray paint then you guys. I’m a spray-painting fool. HA!

    Reply

  15. Cassidy says

    I am so jealous of all of the paint that you have! I hate that I have to buy new cans every time I need to paint, eventually I’ll get there, right?

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  16. Richelle says

    Oh man it’s looking great in the basement. One of my neighbors has an amazing garage with painted pegboards and organized tools, whenever I walk the dog past their house I always go really slow, staring and practically drooling! I’m sure they think I might be a little crazy. I have all of next week off, maybe I’ll try to tackle organizing my own garage.

    Reply

  17. Nicole says

    Do you do anything special to your paints cans to store them so that the paint stays good? How long do you keep a can of paint before you toss it as no good (even if not empty)?

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Paint generally shouldn’t freeze, so if your basement gets that cold its not a great spot for them. Thankfully ours doesn’t (we have a mild winter and it’s insulated enough to stay around 50-60 degrees). Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

  18. Tara S says

    These basement posts are inspiration for us to clean out our garage and get my husband to organize all his tools. He is giving himself a deadline by saying we WILL be able to fit the cars in the garage before Christmas. We are lucky and the previous owners have two big peg boards hung up. Bonus! Now we need to buy all the accessories to use them. Did you have the hooks, baskets, etc already? I cant remember if you mentioned that in the last post. Any tips? He is headed to Home depot tomorrow.

    As a side note, just got two copies of your book in the mail!! One for myself and the second copy is for my cousins who just bought their first house. What a great gift for them, right? I think its going to be my go-to house warming present. :-) Congrats on all the success. Still sad I didnt make it to the NJ book signing because of evil Sandy. Hoping you come back some day.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I got the hooks and some basket things at Home Depot (in the closet/pegboard/shelving aisle if that helps). And as for the books, so glad they arrived! And we can’t wait to come back to Sherry’s hometown sometime!

      -John

  20. Katie says

    Nice work – it looks great!

    Thank you again for coming out to Edina last night – it was so nice to meet you both…and according to FB I believe a Happy Birthday John is in order!! Hope you have an awesome day!! : )

    Reply

  21. Christi says

    i love reading these kinds of organizing posts!

    question: we are moving into a new house (woohoo)..i have been buy patching and painting holes in our old house. the paints that i have kept are old and moldy but aren’t that old. HOw do you keep your paints from getting moldy? did I not close it tight enough? I have kept them in our laundry room and it does get a lot of moisture. I wonder if that is a problem too. I havent kept them in the garage because it gets so hot outside adn i thought that would affect them.

    Just wondering what some tips are for keeping paint because it has been a PAIN to get the color matched perfectly.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, maybe it’s the moisture. We’ve never had mold in paint (even paint leftover from older homeowners that could be a decade old). Anyone have tips for Christi?

      xo
      s

    • KathyG says

      I’ve had that before, got to tap those lids on with a hammer to seal tightly. And I like to store mine upside down as well, really seems to help. Or transfer to a different container with a screw type lid on it.

      Love the Navy! but I am a pegboard naturalist at heart. ha.

  22. Teresa says

    I have a funny paint-storage story…years ago when I was just starting as a DIY housewife some older neighbors were moving and offered to bequeath me their vast collection of paint remnants. Needless to say I was thrilled, thinking of all the projects I could do without having to invest in paint! Upon opening that first can of leftover paint I quickly realized why they had been so generous and insistent that I take them up on their offer: all the paint was nearly dried out and in thinking about the couple’s age and when they had done most of their painting it dawned on me that the paint in those many (MANY) cans was, at the least, unusable and at the worst, unsafe. Those elderly rascals knew they couldn’t legally toss the cans in their garbage when they moved; I ended up having to find a hazardous disposal site and make several trips to rid myself of all that paint!

    Reply

  26. Kelly says

    We have a ton of pegboard in our garage but it’s not in good shape (probably b/c it’s over 30 years old and made of some kind of composite).

    Now I plotting how to fix up our basement for paint and tool storage. :)

    Reply

  27. Lara says

    I love that you two care about the attractiveness of the unseen & utilitarian places in your home.

    The basement is looking great–I really like the navy. (It might look cool to bring the paint onto the cinder blocks & small wooden shelf to make a ceiling to midwall horizontal band around that part of the room.)

    P.S. I am really enjoying your book–so proud of you! Hope the rest of your book tour is rewarding!

    Reply

  28. Laurie says

    Can you come do mine now? My house projects have been on hold for the past year since I got a yellow lab puppy. Oakley is now 14 months old, weighs 110 lbs. and runs off with anything not tied down. I’m hoping by Spring, I’ll be able to paint and organize again. Happy Birthday by the way. Follow you on Instagram.

    Reply

  30. Cassidy says

    Today’s blog title warms my heart! In honor of the rivalry, I give you my favorite “Go Navy” cheer (sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic)

    The goat is old and gnarly and he’s never been to school
    But he can take the bacon from the worn out Army mule
    He’s got no edjukashun but he’s brimming full of fight
    and Bill will feed on Army mule tonight!
    Army, Army call the doctor
    Army, Army call the doctor
    Army, Army call the doctor — (next part spoken)
    WHOOOOOA! Got any oats today lady? No? Gidddyup!
    (singing again) Army, Army call the doctor
    Your mule is down and out!

    Okay. The End. Go Navy!
    Cassidy
    -USNA class of ’06

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha! This was all stuff we scrambled to do before we left (doubling up on projects and churning them out on nights and weekends). We didn’t want to leave you guys high and dry while we traveled :)

      xo
      s

  33. Carley @ On One Hand says

    Oooooh! I am SO excited to see this – I recently (as in, two days ago) picked up 8 – 4’x4′ sheets of pegboard at $3 a pop, some to go over my craft table, and some of the others to go in the garage to organize all of my tools (since I’ve accumulated quite a bit since I started woodworking). This has definitely kicked my but in gear to start my pegboard projects :D I LOVE the navy color!

    Reply

  34. Lizzie says

    John and Sherry,
    Could you make a section on you book page for all your posts including book page references?
    I suggested to a friend that I wanted your book from Christmas so I can’t read it till then.

    I know you made a post with a few things but you referenced the navy blue paint ect. in this and other things in some other posts!
    It would be awesome and really helpful!
    Thanks

    Reply

  35. Tracie@MiddleClassMod says

    I am completely jealous of that spray paint collection. I already buy enough that the lady at the local hardware store expressed concern about what, exactly, I do with them all (I don’t know if she thought I was an undercover 30 something graffiti artist or what…)

    Love the navy.

    Reply

  37. Sarah J. says

    ok, first you said you were going to paint the peg boards and i was like “wha?” but seeing the after pictures won me over. it take it from scruffy old peg board to almost a display like look. and i love that you didn’t lose any function. well done and good choice on the navy!

    Reply

  38. heyruthie says

    love it, john. i want to paint mine now. i can go either light or dark on color. do you think it’s easier to see the tools on a light background or a dark background?

    Reply

  39. Sonja C. says

    Oh, I so need to show this post to my hubs. He thinks “I” have too many cans of paint …I can’t wait until he sees THIS! Ha! Loving the navy pegboards. And the trim, painted the same color, is fab! If I can just ask, though, am I the only one that wants to reach into the computer and flip the yardstick horizontal, resting along the bottom of the board/top of the edge of the work surface? LOL Seriously, though, in love with the “Tool Art”!

    Reply

  41. Koliti says

    Love how you’ve made the pegboards your own with the trim and paint. It adds a nice color layer over the cinder block walls and your tool colors ‘pop’ against the navy background.

    And John, I think a man’s yard stick should hang vertically (you just may need to seek medical attention if it lasts for more than 4 hours).

    Reply

  45. Emily B. says

    So bummed I will be flying to Houston tonight (from Norfolk, Va) to visit my family and am super bummed I will miss you guys in my home city! Have fun!

    Reply

  46. Ethne @ Wom-Mom says

    Um, totally jealous about all the spray paint colors. It’s like the cabinet I admire at JoAnn’s. And I’m honestly surprised that the navy doesn’t make the basement look darker; it works just fine. Have fun in Houston and then back to the kids! Happy Birthday to John! E

    Reply

  47. Kate says

    J, the painted peg board looks awesome and the navy is definitely manly. Plus there’s nothing more manly than a nicely displayed set of tools.

    I think I’m going to go hunter green with a bunch of peg board in my garage. I’m looking for more of an outdoorsy grass and leaf kind of feel. Plus not so manly…more of “an awesomely capable chick owns this garage and my husband just works here” kind of feel.

    How are you guys surviving the travel?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      So far, so good! Last night/this morning was the hardest so far (our event got us back to the hotel around 11:30 and then we were up at 4:30 to catch our flight from Minneapolis to Houston and we have another event tonight) but it’s really fun to meet everyone! So great to put faces to comment names!

      xo,
      s

  48. Leah says

    I had a wonderful time meeting you two in Minneapolis! I hope Houston treats you well too and that you’ve thawed out (tho know that yesterday was pretty warm for Minnesota at this time of year).

    I love the paint job. I have always been hesitant about painting, but you guys are winning me over. I now own a can of ORB spraypaint that I used to redo a brass lamp, and I might just buy some wall paint to cover over the dark mustard yellow (blegh) in our living room. Way to go, you inspiring people!

    Reply

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